NID DAT 2026 Mains Preparation Enters Final Phase Ahead of Studio Tests

As of February 14, 2026, the National Institute of Design (NID) has officially entered the final preparation phase for the DAT Mains. Following the declaration of M.Des Prelims results on February 12, shortlisted candidates are now focusing on the upcoming Studio Tests and Personal Interviews scheduled for March and April. This report covers the essential timeline for admit card issuance, the weightage distribution for the final merit list, and the material handling skills required for the hands-on evaluation at various NID campuses across India.

As of today, February 14, 2026, the National Institute of Design (NID) has successfully transitioned into the second stage of its 2026-27 admission cycle. The Prelims results for the M.Des program were officially declared on February 12, and the rechecking window for these results is set to close tonight at 11:59 PM. This progression marks the beginning of the intensive preparation phase for the Studio Test, which serves as the core of the NID DAT Mains. Shortlisted candidates are now shifting their focus from theoretical design aptitude to practical, hands-on application of creative concepts.

• Shortlisting Status: Only candidates who have secured the minimum qualifying marks in the DAT Prelims are eligible to participate in the Mains stage.
• M.Des Timeline: For M.Des aspirants, the Mains exams, comprising the Studio Test and Personal Interview, are tentatively scheduled to run from March to early April 2026.
• B.Des Timeline: B.Des candidates, whose Prelims results are expected on April 7, 2026, will undergo their Studio Tests later in April and May.
• Admit Card Issuance: The official NID admissions portal will release the specific hall tickets for the Mains in late February for M.Des and mid-April for B.Des.

Components of the DAT Mains and Final Merit Weightage

The NID DAT Mains is a rigorous Portfolio of assessments designed to evaluate a candidate’s sensitivity to materials, 3D modeling skills, and observational aptitude. Unlike the written prelims, the Studio Test requires candidates to solve design problems using various provided materials within a strictly timed environment. For the 2026-27 session, NID has maintained a significant weightage for this stage to ensure that the creative disposition of the student aligns with the institute's professional curriculum.

• Studio Tasks: These typically involve clay modeling, wire bending, and paper construction based on specific prompts or problem statements.
• M.Des Interviews: Post-graduate applicants must present a curated Portfolio that reflects their past work, design philosophy, and technical versatility.
• Campus Locations: The Mains are conducted on-site at various NID campuses, including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, and Jorhat.
• Physical Verification: Original academic documents and category certificates will be verified during the orientation phase of the interview or studio test.

Conclusion

The activation of the NID DAT 2026 Mains schedule as of February 14 signifies the Final hurdle for design aspirants seeking entry into one of the world's most prestigious design schools. The reconciliation of the Prelims data today allows the institute to finalize the hall tickets that will be issued later this month. For the students, this period is the ultimate test of their practical creativity and ability to communicate ideas through physical forms. As the Final merit list depends heavily on the performance in these studio rounds, the importance of material handling and Portfolio presentation cannot be overstated. The successful completion of this phase will lead to the declaration of the final results in May 2026, welcoming a new batch of designers into the NID community. Candidates are urged to monitor the official admissions.nid.edu portal regularly for the release of their specific venue details and reporting times.

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